US puts Gaza-based extremist group on terrorism blacklist

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has placed a Gaza-based extremist group on several terrorism blacklists, freezing any assets it may have in U.S. jurisdictions and barring Americans from transactions with it.

The departments of State and Treasury announced Tuesday they had designated the group (Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem) a "foreign terrorist organization" as well as a "specially designated global terrorist" entity.

The council is an umbrella organization for a number of groups that have claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on Israel since 2012, according to the State Department. It has also declared its support for the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, the department said.